In case you're hunting regarding a solid secondhand workshop workhorse, the particular delta 36 600 table saw is probably sitting here at the top of your Industry or Craigslist search engine results. It's one of those classic parts of machinery that will seems to remain in garages intended for decades, usually protected in a layer of fine sawdust but still flawlessly capable of ripping by means of a 2x4 without breaking a perspiration. It isn't the flashy, modern cupboard saw with just about all the digital features, but it offers a reputation regarding being a reliable "contractor style" saw that bridges the gap between those loud, shaky portable saws and the massive professional units that cost as much as an used car.
A Look at the Quality
The first point you'll notice whenever you stand within front of the delta 36 600 table saw is definitely that it feels substantial. Back whenever Delta was moving these out, they weren't trying in order to make everything out there of thin plastic material to save upon shipping costs. You're looking at the toss iron main table , which is usually honestly the precious metal standard for any serious woodworking. That weight is your closest friend because this damps vibration. In the event that you've ever tried to make the precision cut on a lightweight jobsite saw and felt the whole thing shimmying across the particular floor, you'll value how planted this particular machine feels.
The wings on this model are generally stamped steel, which usually some folks grumble about, but these people do the job. If you find one that's been well-loved, you might see some surface rust upon that cast metal. Don't let that will scare you away from. A bit associated with WD-40, some Scotch-Brite pads, and the little elbow grease can usually bring that silver gloss back in virtually no time. Once it's clear, hitting it with some paste wax the actual wood slide across the surface like it's on ice.
The Power Under the Hood
Most versions of the delta 36 600 table saw come equipped along with a 1. 5 horsepower motor. Today, in the world of industrial stores, that may sound small, but for a house hobbyist or a small-scale furniture maker, it's plenty. It's generally a belt-driven system , which is the huge plus. Direct-drive saws (where the particular blade is mounted right on the electric motor shaft) tend in order to be incredibly noisy and harder to mend. With the belt drive on typically the 36-600, the electric motor hangs off the back, which keeps the noise down and makes the strength delivery feel very much smoother.
The beauty of this particular setup is that when the saw starts feeling a bit buzzy or loud, you can often fix it just by swapping out the standard V-belt for a "link belt. " It's among the easiest improvements that can be done. It literally smooths out the vibration to the stage exactly where you can perform the "nickel test"—balancing a nickel on the table as the saw is running without it dropping over.
Coping with the Fence
Let's talk about the elephant within the room along with older Delta saws: the fence. The particular fence that arrives standard around the delta 36 600 table saw is alright. It's a T-square style fence that will locks at the front. When it's dialed within, it stays seite an seite to the cutting tool quite well. Nevertheless, it's not a legendary Biesemeyer wall.
In the event that you're picking one of these up used, the first thing you should do is check out for square. You'll likely spend a good afternoon fiddling with all the adjustment screws to obtain it perfectly aligned with the miter slots. Is this annoying? Just a little. Is definitely it worth it? Absolutely. A table saw is only as good as its fence, and once this is locked in, it's incredibly consistent for the saw within this cost bracket. Some guys eventually swap the fence out for the premium aftermarket version, but honestly, for the majority of projects around the house, the share one is perfectly fine if you deal with it right.
Maintenance and Standard Quirks
Such as any piece of vintage or semi-vintage gear, the delta 36 600 table saw has its little quirks. The dust collection, intended for example, isn't exactly "modern. " It's mostly an open-base design, meaning sawdust has a propensity to just fall into a put on the particular floor. If you're working in the basement or a finished garage, you'll probably wish to build a simple plywood shroud or the funnel at the particular bottom to connect to a store vac.
One more thing to maintain an eye upon is the trunnion alignment. That's the rock hardware below the table that holds the cutting tool. Over years of use—or if someone bumped it hard throughout a move—the blade can get slightly out associated with alignment with the miter slots. It's a bit of a "reach-around" work to loosen the bolts and touch it back into place, but once you do it, you won't have to touch it once again for a long time.
Is It Still Worth Buying Today?
You might be wondering in the event that it makes sense to buy a delta 36 600 table saw once you could simply go to some big-box store and purchase a brand-new portable saw for $300. In my opinion, it's a no-brainer . A well-maintained 36-600 will outperform almost any modern plastic jobsite saw when it comes to cut quality and balance.
The weight of the cast iron, the particular quietness of the belt drive, and the overall rigidity of the device allow it to be much more enjoyable to utilize. In addition, these things were built to become repaired, not tossed away. If a showing goes bad, you can replace it. If the switch dies, you may swap it out there. It's a tool that will actually rewards you for taking care of it.
Simple Upgrades to Level Up Your own Saw
If you choose to bring one of these into the shop, there are three things I'd recommend doing almost immediately to make it feel like an expert machine:
- Get a great blade: Don't use no matter what crusty old cutting tool came with the particular saw. Buy the high-quality 40-tooth or even 50-tooth combination knife. It makes an entire world of difference in how hard the particular motor has to work.
- Create a zero-clearance put in: The standard throat plate has a broad gap that enables small scraps associated with wood to drop down in to the saw. Making your own personal put out of plywood or phenolic material will support the particular wood fibers up to the advantage of the cut, which usually means way much less "tear-out" and cleaner edges.
- Check the pulleys: When the saw has the weird vibration, check to see if the pulleys are small on the shafts. Sometimes they wiggle loose over the years, and the quick turn associated with an Allen wrench tool can save a person a lot of headache.
Conclusions
The particular delta 36 600 table saw represents a particular era of device manufacturing where things were built to final, but were nevertheless light enough intended for two guys to advance into a cellar. It's not a perfect machine—the dirt collection needs help and the fence can be the bit finicky—but for the price they usually go for on the used marketplace, you're obtaining an entire lot of saw for your money.
If you find one that hasn't been left out in the rain and the motor hums when you flip the switch, it's probably a safe bet. It's some tools that can grow with you because your woodworking skills improve, and truthfully, there's something gratifying about utilizing a device that has a little bit of history behind this. Just keep that table waxed, maintain the blade sharp, and it'll likely keep cutting straight another twenty years.